USA Women's Basketball: Hartley, Dolson pass chemistry test

JIM FULLER, Journal Register News Service

Published 12:00 am, Monday, June 28, 2010

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

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North Babylon's Bria Hartley drives to the basket against Rush-Henrietta during the New York State Athletic Association Class AA girls championship basketball game in Troy, N.Y., Saturday, March 15, 2008. (AP)

North Babylon's Bria Hartley drives to the basket against Rush-Henrietta during the New York State Athletic Association Class AA girls championship basketball game in Troy, N.Y., Saturday, March 15, 2008. (AP)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

USA Women's Basketball: Hartley, Dolson pass chemistry test

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Longtime UConn women's basketball fans can probably still envision Jen Rizzotti setting up fellow All-Americans Rebecca Lobo and Kara Wolters for layup after layup. So when Rizzotti, who just finished coaching the United States squad to the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship for Women title, raves about the on-court bond of UConn incoming freshmen Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley it's a pretty good idea to stand up and take notice.

Rizzotti could see that the two New York natives, both on their way to the UConn campus, worked exceeding well in tandem during the trials and that partnership continued to blossom as the U.S. steamrolled its way to the championship.

"They have a great chemistry already. I'd say that Bria passes the ball more to Stefanie than any other player when they are out there together," Rizzotti said. "I think that will help them."

Although Hartley, a 5-foot-10 guard from North Babylon, and Dolson, a 6-foot-5 center from Port Jervis, grew up in different parts of New York, they would often run into each other on the AAU circuit. They also got to know each other when they took part in the McDonald's and Women's Basketball Coaches Association high school all-star games. But the time they spent in Colorado Springs this month for the U-18 trials, then the team training sessions and finally the five games in their first international event with USA Basketball helped two of UConn's five incoming freshmen take their friendship to a different level.

"It's 10 times what it was," Dolson said of her relationship with Hartley. "We've seen each other before at camps and tournaments but we've gotten to know each other even better. When you become closer off the court, it helps you when you play together."

Hartley led the U.S. with 20 assists, was tied for the team lead with 12 steals and her 10.6 scoring average was second behind Stanford signee Chiney Ogwumike as the United States clinched a spot in the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championships by winning its five games by an average of 55.8 points per game. The impressive run culminated with an 81-38 win over Brazil in Sunday's gold-medal game.

"It's great to play with so many other great players, I can just run the floor and look for a player," Hartley said. "I think it will help me when get to UConn because they have so many great players."

She also benefited from working with Rizzotti, the only UConn player to lead the Huskies in assists and steals for four consecutive seasons.

"She's an outstanding player and she is very coachable. She wants to learn and wants to get better," Rizzotti said. "I think she is going to be a great player at UConn."

Rizzotti has similar praise for Dolson, especially her thirst to be challenged which is a must for any player going to play for UConn's Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma, his equally demanding associate head coach Chris Dailey and the rest of the top-flight Connecticut coaching staff.

"She is a great finisher and I am always teasing her because I expect her to make every shot," Rizzotti said. "She has great hands and great footwork and I think she's going to be a good player at UConn as long as she keeps doing what they ask her to do.

"I asked her about that and she said that that's why she is going to UConn, she wants to get better and wants to be an All -American and she wants them to push her. That's the right attitude for a kid to have who is going to be coached by Geno and Chris."

Hartley was flying from Colorado straight to Connecticut and will spend the rest of the summer taking classes, getting acclimated to the UConn campus and bonding with her fellow Huskies while Dolson was heading back to New York on Monday and planning to head to Connecticut this morning.

While their arrival at UConn was delayed by their USA Basketball responsibilities, neither had any regrets at taking part in an opportunity of a lifetime.

"It was a great experience," Dolson said. "It's something I haven't ever done before and it was pretty cool playing against (international) teams. It helped me quite a bit. If I wasn't here, I would have been back home trying to work on my game and getting into shape. I was able to be pushed while I was here, work on my game and get into shape."

MALOTT NO LONGER CONSIDERING UCONN

Ally Malott, a 6-foot-3 rising high school senior forward from Middletown, Ohio, said she is no longer considering UConn.

Malott, who led the U.S. U-18 team with eight 3-pointers, said UConn "is just too far and I want to stay within three or four hours (of home). I kind of always have always known I wouldn't be going there because it doesn't fall into (the geographic proximity she is looking for."

Malott said she is planning to take her officials visits before making a decision. Among the schools she mentioned were Purdue, Miami, Dayton, Indiana, Notre Dame, Penn State and Florida State although she said others could be in contention. Assuming she is serious about staying close to home, Miami and Florida State seem like long shots.